“It all happened because we said, ‘Why are you not recycling?’” explains John Pope, Executive Director of Keep Van Buren Beautiful.

Just five years ago, there was no recycling program to speak of within the Van Buren School District in Van Buren, Arkansas. Then one pointed question from Pope to the District’s Assistant Superintendent started the ball rolling on a program that has now collected over 1,000 tons of recyclables. Pope gave a presentation to the District’s Superintendent and interested faculty, emphasizing that by having recycling in the schools, the students would teach their parents how to recycle at home. He then forged a partnership with GreenSource Recycling, who provided recycling dumpsters which are accessible for community members to drop off their recyclables as well. In the 2014 Recycle-Bowl, King Elementary in Van Buren was the highest ranked Arkansas school in the Community Division. Pope continues to do outreach to schools and businesses in the area to further bolster the now thriving recycling program within the Van Buren School District.

Thousands of Arkansans have already volunteered to pick up litter along the state’s roadways and waterways during Keep Arkansas Beautiful’s “Great Arkansas Cleanup”. The annual Arkansas fall litter-pickup campaign, the Great Arkansas Cleanup, runs from Sept. 6 through Oct. 31 this year.

Byrd’s Adventure Center, near Cass, hosted their own cleanup event, on Saturday, September 13. Keep Arkansas Beautiful was key in helping organize and publicize the effort, as well as furnishing volunteers with cleanup materials and supplies, such as trash bags, gloves, and safety vests. Organizers felt the need for a fall river cleanup that would complement the Great American Cleanup spring river cleanup organized by Brad Wimberly of Turner Bend.

Event organizers, Courtney King of Byrd’s Adventure Center, Jeff Stepp, of Clarksville Recycling and Sustainability, and Jacob Gould, of GreenSource Recycling noted that nearly 100 volunteers registered to pick up trash along the Mulberry River banks and local highways. Volunteers drove from as far as Russellville and Fayetteville to take part in this year’s cleanup. Group involvement was key to the success of this year’s event, especially with the help of The University of the Ozarks, Cass Job Corps, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, U.S. Forest Service, Mulberry River Society, and Arkansas Stream Team. A very special thank you to the event host, Pamela Byrd Boulden owner of Byrd’s Adventure Center, for her continuous efforts to protect and preserve the Mulberry River Valley.

Volunteers were not only rewarded with the satisfaction of preserving our natural landscape, but were also rewarded for their efforts with a cookout, live music and door prizes. The food and beverages were all donated from local businesses and restaurants: Steve Outlaw, Ozark IGA, Belle Point Beverages, GreenSource, Ozark Natural Foods, Ozark Natural Breads,Pickle Haus, Hellious Hummus, Jammin Java, Sysco Foods, and Byrd’s Mulberry Riverfront Restaurant. The band Arkansauce from Fayetteville donated their time and talents to entertain the volunteers with their unique style and stringed instruments. Everyone left with a prize for participating, toys for the kids, river gear, and even a kayak was given away as the grand prize!

Event organizers and Byrd’s looks forward to many more fall cleanup events in the years to come. For information on how to find cleanups in your area, visit the Keep Arkansas Beautiful website.

Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe declared July 2014 as “Lakes Appreciation Month” in Arkansas. To help celebrate, Hobbs State Park teamed up with the Beaver Watershed Alliance to host a cleanup of Beaver Lake. Seventy-five volunteers worked together to help remove approximately 2,000 pounds of litter from in and around Beaver Lake. They were able to recycle about 20 pounds of waste, as well as 25 tires. In total, they cleaned about 25 miles of waterways, shorelines, roadways, and trails, as well as 12 acres around the Arkansas State Park.

M.K. Distributors in Pine Bluff hosted a Great American Cleanup event in its community on May 17! Volunteers collected approximately 280 pounds of litter from around the city. Keep Arkansas Beautiful is proud of their efforts. Way to go, M.K. Distributors!

The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission hosted their third Great American Cleanup event on May 17 at the Warren Prairie Natural Area. Approximately 20 volunteers helped remove about 900 pounds of litter from 4 miles surrounding the area. Way to go, ANHC!

The Ozark Vein Center recently hosted “Stomping out Trash with Class!” at Iam’s Dog Park in Fayetteville, Arkansas! This was their first time to coordinate and host a Great American Cleanup event. They collected approximately 60 pounds of litter from in and around the dog park. Xena, one of the volunteer’s dogs, was a big help for removing hard to reach litter!

The group enjoyed the cleanup so much that they also started cleaning a bike trail in Bentonville! We are so proud of their efforts to help keep Northwest Arkansas beautiful!

The Gentry Travelers Pathfinder Club hosted a “Trash-A-Thon” in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup on May 18!

Twenty-five volunteers helped collected approximately 400 pounds of litter from in and around Gentry City Park and the Flint Creek Nature Center. This cleanup was also a fundraiser for the organization. Members of the organization had people “sponsor” them for each pound of litter they removed. Funds raised from this cleanup event will help fund their upcoming trip to the 2014 International Camporee. Way to go, Gentry Travelers!

The Lake Fayetteville Watershed Partnership hosted its 2014 Lake Fayetteville Spring Cleanup on May 10, in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup.

Seventy-five volunteers gathered to help remove approximately 1,200 pounds of litter from in and around Lake Fayetteville! They were able to recycle 150 pounds of recyclables (plastics and aluminum), as well as three tires! Thanks to the Lake Fayetteville Watershed Partnership for their dedication to keeping Lake Fayetteville beautiful!